What is a relevant issue in China's Hospitality Industry?

American wanting to do freelance graphic design work in Canada?

• I am beginning tentative research on working in Canada (I am a US citizen). I say tentative, because I am currently in my first year of school (I am in a Bachelors Degree program for Graphic Design at an applied arts school). However, my boyfriend is a Canadian citizen, and we would like to get married as soon as possible after my graduation in 2014, with me moving to Canada. He is graduating this month and plans to work in the hospitality/tourism or restaurant industry. We both live very close to the border, and I spend about every weekend in Canada with him. What I've read so far about obtaining a work visa, or permanent residence status in CA is very confusing, and quite frankly intimidating and scary. I'd like to do everything properly, so as to avoid any issues or denials, but I really don't know that either of us will be able to afford a lawyer, which complicates things further. I have found several forums with stories shared by Canadians obtaining work in the US, but it's much more difficult finding anything on the other way around. Does anyone know of any good resources to help with this situation? Also, from most of the things that I -have- found on the topic, it seems I would require a potential employment offer in order to apply for the visa. However, in an ideal situation I would like to be doing strictly freelance work. Does anyone know how things might be different as far as applying for a visa with that intention, since I wouldn't exactly have any employer to offer employment? :S Would it be a better idea to at least get legally married before I try to move there, as far as making the whole process easier? While we'd like to get married and live together ASAP, I am worried this issue may become much more drawn out than we planned for. I am paying for school largely on student loans that I will have to start repaying 6 months after graduating, and it's important that I have a secure job at that time. Whether I will also be able to be with my partner at that time, I am uncertain still, and that is frustrating. I have been reading through on both the US and Canadian governments' websites, but it's very difficult to understand a lot of the time still. I'd really appreciate it if anyone has some real-world experiences they can share, or know of any place to find such. Thank you for any and all who can offer advice.

• Answer:

  STEP ONE you are immigrating TO Canada. U.S. Government web sites are not a wealth of knowledge about procedures in other countries. Step two Your source of OFFICIAL information in the U.S. is the Canadian Embassy in Washington. You may also access information from government of Canada web sites for general information.(gc.ca is Government of Canada) Thinking above gives three good sites with information You can get married in Canada and the U.S. you are allowed to repeat your vows and to have both a civil (judge,justice of the peace) or a religious ceremony both his religious normal and also yours. You are not quite sure of the concept. You say at one spot you want a SECURE job but will be working freelance..As this field could be described in ARTISTIC terms you may want to explore the category of ARTIST for immigration purposes in the business section. If you are a GOOD student you may want to explore the idea of a higher degree taken at a Canadian school to add to your skills and Canadian experience for employment purposes. The process is long in detail and VERY long in time for officials to scrutinize your application in detail.Expect the process from start to finish to last from 2 to five years. Part of this is verifying a legitimate relationship and not a quick thing of convenience. http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/washington/visas/immigrate-immigrer.aspx?lang=eng&view=d YOU will need to navigate your way to here http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/NOC/2011/Profile.aspx?val=5&val1=5241 This is specific information for your field. You can immigrate as an individual or a sponsored spouse. Marriage helps with the second one. The rules are long and detailed. They are not complicated. Just answer ALL of the question. Try not to find ways to work around the rules just do as the rules state. There are over a million applicants each year for visas. Not all who are qualified receive one. Each visa office around the world works independently of the others and processes in slightly different ways based on the type of visa applied for and the volume of applications. You can apply for more that one type of visa (separate fees). You can contact the local office you would deal with and ask general questions about procedures and suggestions of which visa route or routes would be best to follow. They do not have time to answer specific detailed from hundreds of applicants. Read the sections of the web sites that apply to your situation the visa officer uses the SAME instruction sheet to check your application. START A DIARY for this process. Dates times web sites people and so on you deal with during this process. You want to show a chain of activity in your efforts to get a visa and to keep your relationship going.. Record visits phone calls e mails and so on. THIS INFORMATION is for you to complete your forms over a many year period . You will not remember all the little details . So start writing stuff down and keep ORGANIZED NOTES. There are also PROVINCIAL web sites directed at immigration you do not say which province so I cannot direct you there. Read through this information FIRST and you are welcome to message me for further general information. DOt.com and other sites are private companies trying to get ID information and money from you not all are reliable or honest in their dealings with customers use with caution.Most just reprint information from the public government sites. As a newbie on the job market you may want to start work with an established company before you start your own business.